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Friday, February 11, 2011

Freebie Friday Knitter's Mitten

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These are some of my favorite mittens I've ever designed, perhaps because they are the first. Any two colors can work, but when I made them for a friend I made them in two naturally occuring sheep colors - off white, and chocolate brown. The recipient, a fellow knitter, let out a belly laugh when she opened them, and swears she wears them even now, 6 years later. (She lives in Seattle, so I don't get to see her very often, but I take her word for it.) I made the palms the dark color to hide wear and soil, and the backs lighter. The tops are rounded, accomplished by knitting two together periodically in alternating rows.

Cast on (52 sts) in CC for the ribbed cuff. I like the cuff in just one color, as a 2x2 rib. In the solid color row before the main mitten pattern, increase one stitch every 8 stitches to achieve the 60 sts needed. Please note - there is a white stripe up each edge of the mitten, so make sure to count those on the above chart. I admit, they are not super clearly marked.

This pattern is designed in the round, with an afterthought thumb. The front and back of each thumb are the same, and the LEFT thumb is on top, the RIGHT thumb is on the bottom. The charcoal lines on the palm of the mitten body represent where to knit with scrap yarn for thumb placement.

For the decreases at the top, as charted, knit one, knit two together around. Then knit one round even. Knit two together around.Knit two together around. Graft top together.

I used a US 5. I know that a couple of people have used US 4's, depending on the yarn and their personal gauge. My yarn was a light worsted, and I tend to knit colorwork a little bit tighter than plain stockinette.

Right now I'm making a similar mitten in a different yarn (it still says worsted), and ended up on US 3's. It really is all about getting gauge, or they won't fit!